Applied Test Construction or “Putting Theory into Practice”

1. Applied Test Construction or “Putting Theory into Practice”

2. Presenter: Mary Anne RokitkaPhysiologistUB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences • Credentials: HS: biology, chemistry, physics, earth science Grad school: comparative physiology Honors Seminar: Life in Space Human Physiology Pathophysiology

3. Bloom’s Taxonomy

4. Our Challenge To apply guidelines for test question construction while incorporating objectives that address various levels of intellectual behavior (per Bloom’s taxonomy)

5. A typical M/C (multiple-choice question) Item Stem: Which of the following is a chemical change? Response Alternatives: a. evaporation of alcohol b. freezing of water *c. burning of oil d melting of wax

6. Bloom’s “New” Taxonomy

7. Variations on a theme Instead of relyingon “the usual” M/C questions, consider using the following “sources” when constructing questions:  figures  flow charts  graphs  mini/maxi cases  quotes  data  tables  journal articles

8. Figures in M/C questions(see Illustration 1 in the handout) Tamoxifen, an antagonist to estrogen receptors, is a drug used in the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers of the breast. The action of tamoxifen is illustrated in panel(s) ______ of the figure shown below. a. A b. B c. C d. A and B e. A and C

9. Graphs in M/C questions(see Illustrations 2-4 in the handout) • The accompanying figure summarizes variations in plasma hormone concentrations... • The figure shown below represents concentrations of glucagon, glucose and insulin… • A healthy adult female was monitored during the course of one typical 28-day menstrual cycle…

10. Quotes in M/C questions(see Illustration 5 in the handout) “Broken bones, kidney stones, abdominal groans, and psychic moans” is a saying memorized by medical students when they learn about a particular endocrine disorder. Patients that are described by the saying are likely to report the following symptoms: pain in the shin bones, muscle weakness, upset stomach, and vague feelings of depression. All of the above are indications of a parathyroid disorder characterized by: a. hyperglycemia b. hypoglycemia c. hypercalcemia d. hypocalcemia e. anemia

11. Tables in M/C questions(see Illustration 6 in the handout) Feedback loops are responsible for regulating a large number of physiological phenomena. Depending on the plasma concentration. . .

12. Flow charts in M/C questions(see Illustration 7 in the handout)

13. Mini case studies in M/C questions(see Illustration 8 in the handout) A college student has been diagnosed with hypocortisolism; his adrenal cortex produces abnormally low levels of cortisol. His physician orders blood tests to determine cortisol and ACTH levels. The tests reveal decreased levels of ACTH. This observation is most likely due to: . . .

14. Case studies in M/C questions(see Illustrations 9 and 10 in the handout) A 70-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath, severe fatigue and weakness, abdominal distension and. . . Gladys Miller had worked for nearly 20 years as a nursing assistant in the newborn nursery of a major teaching hospital. During that time, . . .

15. Data in M/C questions(see Illustration 11 in the handout)  History  Physical Exam  Lab results

16. Journal articles in M/C questions(see Illustration 12 in the handout) • Case 31-1994— A 25-Year-Old Man with the Recent Onset of Diabetes Mellitus and Congestive Heart FailureJoel M. Gore, and John T. Fallon • Volume 331:460-466August 18, 1994

17. To summarize, we’ve considered the use of in constructing test questions

18. Hopefully, this hasn’t been as shocking an experience as Kermit’s reveal. . .

19. We’re in this together. . .let’s